HYDERABAD: The death toll due to the rain and storm that lashed Hyderabad division last weekend has reached 370 with the recovery of 40 more bodies in Digree taluka of Tharparkar district.

The fate of 30,000 persons of two Union Councils of Badin (Hyderabad) and five villages of Tando Ghulamali was still unknown as no contact could be established with these areas even today [June 19] due to deep water and disrupted means of communications.

The death toll is mounting. The Provincial Minister for Railways, Mr Mohammad Khan Junejo, toured the rain-affected areas of Tharparkar district today. The Minister was accompanied by Mr I.U. Khan, West Pakistan Relief Commissioner, and the Commissioner of Hyderabad, Mr Abu Nasr.

The Minister was told that 30 relief camps had been opened in the district where over 10,000 affected persons were given shelter. The authorities had also made arrangements for the feeding of these persons and a sum of about Rs 15,000 per day was being spent on them. They would be given free food for a month which will cost Rs 450,000.